Sign and display device



y 9, 1931. M. WASSERBERG 1,305,504

I SIGN AND DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Oct. 2; 1928 INVENTOR .ATTOR Y Patented May 19, 1931 Hair-ED Es, P T EJNTJV OFFICE- MAX WASSERBERG, orrnusrrme, NE YORK, AssIGNo'R or ONE HALF TOSAMUEL STEiNFELD, or NEW roux, N. "z.

' srsivarinnrsrrav nEvIoE Application filed October 2, 1928. Serial No. 309,834.

This inventionrelates to signs or display devices of any kind or class and 'particularly' to devices utilizing daylight as a sourceof illumination; and the object of the invention is to provide a'device of the class specified rays to pass through said display element onto a reflector surface, upon which'the characters of said element may be seenffroin an,

opening providedin onewall of the device angularlydisposed with reference to said reflecting surface; a further object being "to provide means for movably and detachably supporting the display element with relation to said panel; a further object being to provide means for continuously moving a display element with reference to said panel to produce on the reflector surface a moving characterized display; a further object -being to provide means for adjusting the ang'u lar positioning of the device with reference a to a standard or support; a still furtherobstructure shown in Fig. 1,

ject being to provide means for utilizing; artificial light for transmission throughthe panel; and with these and other objects in' view, the invention consists in a device or apparatus of the class specified, which is simple in construction, efficient in use, and which is constructed as hereinafter described and claimed. V

The invention is fully disclosed-in the following specification, of which the accompany ng drawings form a part, in which the. separate :parts. of my improvement are designatedby suitable reference characters in each of the views,-and in which I s a Fig. 1 is a. longitudinal, sectional view through one form ofdevice made according to my invention and illl lstratingv one method of its operation.

Fig 2 is a front and sectional view of the Fig. 3 is a plan view of another form of jdevice which I employ, 1 i s Fig. 4 is a section onthe "line of -Fig. 3 with part of the construction broken away.

a characterized display element in juxtaposition to said panel permittinglight ,Figl 5 is a perspective View of a device similar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 1 and showing amodification; and, i 'J Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an-v other modified form of construction.

For the purpose of illustrating one meth; 0d of 'carryingcmy inventionrinto effect, I, have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the draw ings, a casing 10 which is substantially rectangular in form, the front 1 wall being provided with arectangularopening 11, and the top Wall with .an opening 12." Theybaclr of the casing 10 is preferablyopen and adapted to be closed'by a c0ver 13 which in the con- Y struction shown carries asupplemental bot tom l upon which a small electric motor-151 is supported as Well as other parts'of thed'evi'c e later described. Arranged'in the opening 12 is a panel16, which in most uses of the device will be composed ojf translucent material but may in some uses, consist of transparent material,

the materials employed in-either use,;being glass paper, celluloid-or any other-similar materiah o The panel 16 is held: in place by a frame member 17, :movablekeepers 18 permitting the attachment and detachment of said panel; Arranged within the casing 10 and at an angular position with reference-to the frontand top walls thereof adjacent the openings 11 and 12 is areflector 19 which may constitute a mirror or a metallic or, other reflector surface of any kind or class, a mirror being preferably employed, Thisrefleotortis supported in connection with the casing 10 by a frame 20 which in-. eludes, side wall members 21. The arrangementof the reflector 19 is such that light passing down: throughthe panel 16 will be refiected outwardly through the opening 11in the front wall of the casing. Supported in the path, of light preferably/adjacent the in the form of a moving body, which in the construction shown is annular and in'the form t panel '16 is 'a-display element 22, preferably of astenoiled annular strip of metal, paper portions only, the remainder of said element eing opaque, and any word or series of words may be arranged circumferentially of the element 22 to be transmitted onto the reflector 19 in the rotation of the element 22.

In the construction shown, the element 22 is supported upon a mounting ring 23 which in turn is detachably coupled with a semi-circular member 24 driven by the motor 15 through reduction gearing comprising a small pinion 25 011 the motor shaft and a comparatively large gear 26 on the shaft 27 of the member 24, said shaft having a suitable bearing 28 arranged in a support 29 secured to the bottom 14.

I The ring 23 is preferably made detachable with respect to the member 24 to facilitate the placement of different elements 22 thereon, and this detachable connection may be made in any desired manner, for example by providing a channel 23a at one side of the frame 23, in which the peripheral edge of the member 24 seats.

Wires 30 and 31 from a suitable source of electric supply are coupled with the motor 15 through a switch device 32 supported in connection with the cover 13 whereby the stopping and starting of the device may be controlled. It will be understood at this time that the switch 32, motor 15, member 24 and frame 23 may be removed from the casing 10 as a unit for repair, cleaning or other purposes and for the purpose of replacement of characterized display elements 22 in the several uses of the device.

With the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be understood that the element 22 may be characterized in any desired manner and may constitute an advertising display, a

pictorial or other educational or amusement display or in fact, a characterized element of any kind or class regardless of the particular structure of the element. This element may,

as hereinbefore stated, be opaque, with the characteristics stamped therefrom or may be translucent or transparent with the characteristics printed or otherwise applied thereto, and in fact picture films may be employed.

In the several uses of elements 22, it will be understood that any suitable means of movement or actuation of the element may be employed as well as different types of motive power, the structure shown in the accompanying drawing being merely for the purpose of illustrating one use of my inventionor method of carrying it into effect. By virtue of the detachable mounting of the panel 16, it will be understood thatpanels of different kinds or characteristics may be employed in the several uses of the device and especially in changing the color of such panels, it being understood that one color may be used throughout the entire panel or a combination of colors may be incorporated therein. 7

In addition to the movable characterized element as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, my invention further consists in providing a device wherein the movable feature is removed, and means is provided for detachably supporting a characterized element adjacent the panel of the device. This form of construction is very useful in various types of advertising displays, and especially wherein it is desirable to change the characterized element from time to time.

In carrying this type of a device into effect, I employ as seen in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, an oblong rectangular casing 33, the front wall of which is provided with an opening 34, the top wall With an opening 35 closed by a panel 36 similar in all respects to the panel 16 and held in place by a frame 37 and keepers 38.

Supported in the casing 10 in a position angular with reference to the top and bottom walls thereof is a reflector 39 composed of glass, metal or other material presenting a reflector surface. Arranged within the easing adjacent the top and side walls thereof are guide channels 40 in which is slidably mounted a frame 41 adapted to support a characterized element 42. This frame is of channel form in cross section at the front and sides thereof, the back being open as seen at 43, Fig. 4, to permit the insertion of the element 42. The rear end of the frame is provided centrally with an upwardly directed finger piece 44, by means of which said frame may be manipulated. The back Wall 33a of the casing is removable to per- Init the insertion of the reflector 39 which in the construction shown is supported in guide channels 45 on the inner faces of the side walls of the casing.-

In the construction shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, I preferably provide a support for the casing 33 in the form of a standard 46 having a large base portion 47 and a split semi-circular socket 48 at the upper end of the standard and adapted to receive a ball end 49 on a member 50 secured to the bottom wallof the casing. A winged nut and screw construction 48a is employed on the socket 48 to regulate the tensional or frictional engagement of said ball end 49, permitting the adjustment of the casing universally upon the support or upper end of the standard 46. This type of display may be conveniently used on counters, in window displays and the like to exhibit advertising or other characterized matter relating to goods placed on display and may include for example, sales or price cards.

For night display, I may support upon the top wall of the casing 33, a hood 51 in connection with which is supported an incandescent light 52, the socket of which opens outwardly through the back of the hood 51, said hood tapering to the side walls of the casing as clearly seen in Fig. 5. The hood 51 may be removed when the device is used in daylight, it being understood thatwhere overhead lights are employed, forjexample, in window displays, the hood 51'is not essential.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings, 1 have shown a modified method of supporting the casing 33 and in this construction the support in-' volving the parts 465O inclusiveare elimi-' nated, and in this construction, the rear'wall' of the casing is provided adjacent the sides thereof with strap retaining members 53 in connection with which straps 54 are mounted, for strapping the casing upon a bar, rod or other support.

It will be understood that my improved device may be mounted in connection with supports of any kind or class and suitable means will be provided to retain the device in connection with said support. In'likemanner, the shape or form of the casing may be varied, and while I have referred to certain specific uses of the device and have illustrated certain details of construction for carrying my invention into eflect, it will be understood that I am not necessarily limited to these uses nor to the structures herein disclosed, and various changes therein and modifications thereof may be made within the scope of the ap-' said last named means, means for supporting a characterized element having translucent properties adjacent said panel in said path of light, said last named means being detachable with respect to the casing, means for 'movingsaid element relatively to said panel,

saidlast named means involving an electric motorcarranged in said casing and a switch controlling'the current supply to said motor tion with said casing.

In testimony that I-claimthelforegoing as my invention I have signed my name this 28th day of September, 1928.

MAX wAssnnnnne.

pended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages. V Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is r r V l. A device of the class described comprising-a casing, an opening inone wall of said casing, a reflector *angularly disposed with reference to the line of vision through the opening in said casing, means admitting rays I of light from a source into the casing and onto said reflector in a path angular with respect ment to bring successive sections thereofinto I 7 position relatively to said panel and reflector,

said last named means involving a source of power arranged in said casing and in operative engagement with the element supporting means through a member movable around said angularly disposed reflector.

2. A device of the class described compris- 7 ing a casing, an opening in one wall of said casing, a reflector angularly disposed with,

reference to the line ofvision through the opening in said casing, means admittinglight into the casing and onto said reflector ina path angular with respect to said line of vis-f ion, a translucent panel constituting p p c 

